Thoughts by Dr. Steven Bruns

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2 Samuel 5:11-12 and The Human Need for Assurance

David may have been a man after God’s own heart, but he still had the human need for assurance. Even though it is amazing to think that David needed some kind of outside confirmation of his kingship, this is what is recorded:

Tyre’s King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace.Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel.

Let’s recap David’s life here for a minute.

1) He is anointed by Samuel to be king over all Israel.

2) He defeats the giant Goliath.

3) He is victorious in any battle he engages.

4) He is protected from the raging of Saul.

5) He is protected from the Philistines while he is fleeing Saul.

6) The Lord continues to answer him and guide him in success.

7) Judah crowned him as their king.

8) He is successful in an outright civil war.

9) All Israel crowns him as king.

10) He captures a new city not in any of the other tribal areas to establish his capitol.

And with all of this, David needed the assurance that the Lord had made him king over all of Israel to come from the king of Tyre and his cedar trees!

I love the fact that this is in the Bible. It shows us that it is not a sin to need some outside encouragement and assurance that we are doing what the Lord wanted us to do. If David, after all that the Lord had done in his life, still needed a little bit more assurance and confirmation of what he was doing, it is ok for us to need that at times as well. The important lesson from this is that if we are doing what the Lord would have us do, we will receive that confirmation when we need it most.

If you have that all too human need for assurance, ask the Lord of hosts to send it to you. You will be in good company.